Developers are questioning whether an Apple antitrust settlement would meaningfully loosen the company’s control over the iPhone, according to a report. PayPal and Epic Games are among the firms that have raised concerns with the Department of Justice, which has reportedly signaled a preference for a negotiated resolution and asked developers to suggest improvements to how the iPhone works with other companies’ products.
Discussions have largely focused on interoperability, including access for competing accessories and payment services. Developers and antitrust lawyers cited in the report worry about how much Apple would actually need to change: rival smartwatches lack much of the integration available to the Apple Watch, and competing payment apps still face disadvantages despite gaining access to the iPhone’s near-field communication (NFC) capabilities for contactless payments.
When the DOJ filed its lawsuit in March 2024, it alleged that restrictions affecting messaging, digital wallets, smartwatches, cloud gaming and multipurpose apps helped Apple unlawfully protect its smartphone monopoly. Apple rejected those allegations and said the government’s proposed remedies would threaten its ability to design integrated products.
Some capabilities at issue have changed since the lawsuit began. Apple added Rich Communication Services (RCS) support to Messages with iOS 18 and expanded access to the iPhone’s NFC capabilities for third-party contactless transactions starting with iOS 18.1.
Apple antitrust settlement implications
The report says Apple offered interoperability concessions during an earlier attempt to avert the lawsuit. The company could still resist the broader changes developers want, leaving current negotiations without an agreement. Proton said it doubted Apple would accept terms developers would regard as satisfactory.
